Liberty, Soho, London

Management are rude, snobby and uptight. All goods are over-priced (any like-for-like brands can be purchased my more cheaply elsewhere) and their returns policy is verging on the illegal. It is supposed to be a nice place to buy gifts but don’t even think about it. They have a 14 day return period after which they will refuse point blank to do anything, even exchange. Or, if you’re unlucky enough to have bought anything from beauty, fragrance or clothing there is no returns policy AT ALL. Even if you change you mind before leaving the store.

My wife picked up a couple of things in one department, and because you’re not allowed to walk around with unpaid goods like a normal shop she had to pay for them right away. Then she saw something else in another section that she preferred. When we asked to exchange it we just thought the sales assistance was badly trained when she said we were not allowed, so we asked to speak to the manager. She also refused point-blank to let us exchange what we had literally just bought 5 minutes ago. No gesture of good-will, no apology, just spouting ‘its store policy’ over and over again.

When there are so many other good stores to shop at with better value, far better service and decent returns policies there is no reason what-so-ever to shop here. By all means go in, look at the nice décor, but don’t bother buying anything. Save your money for a shop that treats its customers with respect.

May well be overpriced but the building itself is stunning. Great that they have embeded this old architecture with modern facilities. Very well done. There is also a great range of fancy labels to choose from. Top floor always has a great christmas range!

Talk about high end Fashion! whenever im in a frivolous mood, you’ll find me right here!

Really nice shop that has a very cosy almost at home lay out, really a nice moment spent.

Never buy Liberty own-brand men's shirts. Ever. Like everyone, I love Liberty as a shop. But I recently splashed out and bought a few of their plain, long-sleeved men's shirts. I justified it by saying that by spending more money, I'd get something that would last for years and years. But after a couple of months, the collars and cuffs started to bubble (something you'd expect from only the cheapest, most shoddily tailoring). Which meant my nice, expensive shirts were completely unwearable.

I emailed Liberty a few times to ask if they'd replace them. But to no avail. So, save your money and get your plain shirts from, well, anywhere else.

For a department store, Liberty has a wonderfully personal feel. You can get lost for hours in its inspirational ranges and two Tom Dixon tables from their furniture department now take pride of place in my craft salon.

Go in there to admire the old mock-Tudor building alone. Walk through all of the furniture departments to see some quirky stuff, I saw a great old fashioned typewriter and old desk that you would see only in the movies now. Make sure to enter via the florist, it is a lovely smell and the best entrance in the world.

fab!

Liberty is a lot smaller than other high-end department stores like Harrods or Selfridges, but I think that's part of it's charm. The mock-Tudor building and the fact that it's not crammed on a Saturday afternoon makes it a nice place for wondering and swooning over £4000 armchairs.

As well as the department store staples like fashion and beauty, Liberty seems to specialise in textiles, craft materials and gorgeous furniture. All very expensive but lovely to browse nonetheless. And the staff don't seem to have a problem with nosey girls poking around the Rugs section.

I do mourn the fact that the Liberty fabrics are getting shoved further and further into the bowels (albeit on the fourth floor) of the shop - before if you wanted to check the real colours of fabrics or yarn you could simply walk over to the window but now there's virtually no natural light there at all.

Still has one of the best selection of buttons in town. It's all Rowan yarn as it's a concession, and there are Amy Butler and Rowan fabrics.

It's always worth checking out at sale time - generally Liberty card holders get an extra 10% off for the first and last three days of the sale, and by then fabrics can be reduced by up to 75%.

Walking into Liberty feels like walking into the past. Not because the goods feel dated, but more about the actual creak of the wooden floors and the fact that it's a Tudor building. There's something so warm and nostalgic about this place, and in recent years they've moved from selling predominantly traditional housewares and fabrics to also selling more contemporary and stylish clothing and accessories (especially for ladies). Truth be told, this is certainly not a shop for thrift-seekers - more for special finds and items to keep (I feel as if I'm ageing just saying that!). It's also a fantastic place for fabric inspirations. I've bought a couple of different printed fabrics and have had a jacket and a couple of dresses made (one of them from the English Rose fabric, which I adore). I remember my mother taking me here as a small girl, and now I'm shopping at - or at least admiring - Liberty (again, back to the coming of age). Although I've been told that the selection of fabrics and traditionally printed scarves has shrunk, I still think there's quite a vast selection and lovely looking goods around...and feel that this is pretty much as English a classic shop gets. Aside from shopping (or browsing), it's a lovely (and civilised) place to meet a friend for tea. Oh, and don't forget to check out the beautiful flowers at the side entrance - I adore that little nook.

Amazing!I can’t believe there is someone who gave it 1 star for homeware! honestly, if it wasn’t good enought why do so many people shop there?it’s an amazing place!you can have tea and coffee at the same price you pay at starbucks, I see many exclusive items at Liberty have that, usually when I go back, have sold out!I love this store as I think its very English!compared to all the other department stores who seem to cater only to certain people!they can be expensive but they also have amazing sales!anyway its beautiful and there if you don’t have the money, go get some friends and have a wonderful time in there cafe bar!

ciao!

Liberty is small department store in London on Great Marlborough Street just off Regent Street. It first opened in 1875 and specialised in oriental silk fabrics. It then went on to sell Liberty prints and designs and was part of the Arts and Crafts movement in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The shop is housed in an impressive country-house style building which I thought was really old but was then disappointed to read in a guidebook that it was mock-tudor and actually dates to 1925 and was built for purpose. Looks can be deceiving! Despite it not being as old as it seems it is still really impressive and the shop is worth a visit more for the building than for its actual goods.

Inside the building has been well preserved, instead of modern shop fittings and bright lighting the shop has retained all the period features. The old wooden staircases and wooden pillars remain in place. This gives the shop a lovely old charm feel and a certain quirkiness and makes it very different from all the other department stores. You wont find your modern escalators here instead it’s the wooden stairs or a lift.

The shop is split into smaller rooms housing its various collections of goods. There is a lovely flower shop in the outer hallway. Inside there is a beauty department, bags (very nice designer one’s with very large prices too) and accessories including patterned scarves, clothing, gifts and furniture amongst other things. Here the emphasis is on quality rather than the wide range which you would find in the other London department stores. When I visited a couple of weeks ago they seemed to be undergoing a refurbishment and some of the floors were closed off. Once the refurbishment is complete there may be a better selection of goods.

It also has some impressive window displays which are often quite cutting edge although sometimes can be quite weird too. The most recent one featured a fake (at least I hope it was fake!) dog poo amongst other things, previously they have even contained live models.

The shop is a nice place to visit and browse but I wasn’t tempted to buy anything. I think if you were looking for a special gift for someone then this might be a nice place to visit for something different but not somewhere I would come to shop often.

If you are in London though its worth a visit just to see the building.

The store is open Monday to Saturday from 10am until 8pm and on a Sunday from 12pm to 6pm.

OOh yes, I visited here (twice) when I came to London and took my son along too. Being a design student of the seventies it was a bit of a Mecca for me.
Absolutely loved it & spent hours there. Also spent a little money - wonderful for special gifts beautifully wrapped.
The building itself is worth the visit. A must see for London tourists. You can skip Harrods.

Liberty is indeed an institution, and still provides a unique shopping experience.

Originally opened in 1875, from the start it sold innovative clothing and decorative items, as well as importing a wide range of antiques, especially from the Near and Far East. It was especially important in championing the arts and crafts movement, and the quirkiness of some its design still rings true today.

A change came with the new building, opened in 1927, and built in the best neo-Tudor style - inside and out. It is now a Grade-II listed building. The Regent Street frontage has been sold off, so it feels a lot smaller these days (and in truth it was never that large a store), but its interior is still unique. Heavy wooden pillars and beams, creaky staircases, lead-light windows, old-fashioned looking lifts, and fresh flowers everywhere provide a stark contrast to some of the avant-garde designer items inside. It’s heavily compartmentalised, so takes some navigating too. At any moment you expect to come across the wardrobe gateway into Narnia.

As for shopping, well, it’s probably one of the best places to come for gifts, especially its iconic fabric prints, but also other quirky items. If you are looking for clothing, the choice isn’t that wide, but it’s all interesting: it depends on your sense of style and, as others have said, the depth of your pockets. And it is expensive.

The same applies to furniture: you’ll either love it or hate it. Best to treat it as an experience - a bit like going to a museum - and if you happen across something, then all well and good. They have a great website, so if you are looking for something more specific, then you can do some research beforehand. One tip is that they do have great New Year sales - worth a visit.

The best part about it for me are the staff. They are so nice, and so apologetic if they can’t help. I feel sorry each time I leave without a purchase…

To escape the hustle and bustle of London head to Liberty, the mosy stylish department store in the capital. You don’t need to buy any of the beautiful stationery, cosmetics, upmarket clothing, bedlinen, kitchenware, carpets or chocolates. Nor do you need to take tea in the ground floor tea room or dine at the Oyster Bar. Just wander slowly through its four floors, soaking up the atmosphere. And if you just happen to buy something en route, make sure that its wrapped in tissue paper and placed in one of Liberty’s signature purple bags.

I love this building! Yeah, so it might not be really really old and the wattle and daub and black and white timber is all fake, but it looks great. I’m also a sucker for the fresh flowers outside. They looked so perfect my friend honestly thought they were fake.

The shop is fab - just for browsing and playing and annoying the shop staff. They’re uptight in here and they will glare at you if they think you can’t afford stuff - you have the choice to ignore or get upset. At least with the former you can be giggly and annoying. No one giggles in this shop. In fact, no one really talks.

Luckily, the stuff on the ground floor is more affordable than the rest, so you might find your self buying some great toiletries or gazing at the stunning jewellery.

Why three stars? Well the staff deserve a good talking to. Some smiling lessons wouldn’t go amiss either. But really, their shoe selection is shocking. This is the place I’d spent my money! It’s a bit pathetic that it’s smaller than most shoe shop chains.

Over-rated, over-priced, overwhelmingly poor. The single largest collection of tat I have ever seen in one place, it exceeds even the Conran Shop for piling rubbish to the rafters. I recommend this shop though if you a) Like furniture and other home orientated goods designed by 5 year olds b) can’t bring yourself to buy anything that isn’t in a primary colour c) buy furniture for discomfort d) like to decorate your home in a style that will cause nausea, dizziness and vomiting to 90% of people who visit you.

Liberty is worth a visit for the building alone, a classic Tudor in prime location at the top of Carnaby Street. Best entered via the Great Marlborough Street entrance (past the florist stall), you’ll be impressed by the sheer feeling of history of this building. Beyond the architecture there is an impressive (if expensive) range of designer goods, jewellery and furnishings. Sign up to their card and you’ll receive invites to their regular sales night where discounts (rather than all out bargains) can be had.

This is my favourite department store in London!

The building is a beautiful Tudor style which stands out from its neighbours on Regent Street. The interior has beautiful wooden staircases and a large atrium which allows you to see the floors all at once. The rugs section drapes a selection over the railings to add interest and colour.

The store established itself as the place to get items for your home if you followed the Aesthetic movement of Oscar Wilde’s time, the Arts and Craft movement of the turn of the last century (William Morris and Archibold Knox were featured then, and you can still purchase examples of their work now) and/or the Art Deco era.

Liberty’s sells all sort of amazing items: fine jewellery; high-end cosmetics; furniture antique and modern; fabrics, crafts & habidashery items; kitchen, bath & bedroom accessories; high fashion designer clothing and accessories; handbags, notebooks and other small leather goods; fancy sweets; lighting; and lovely Christmas items.

Their window displays are well worth a trip to view, with Christmas time being especially interesting and imaginative.
Though many items are expensive, you can find bargains at the sales and it’s always a beautiful place to just walk around.